Little Rock Arsenal
Sequence: 1 of 22
▷ The Little Rock Arsenal was both the beginning and
ending point for Union troops in the Arkansas Red River Campaign of 1864.
In addition to the troops headed to the Red River, other troops were dispatched as a distraction toward
Mount Elba, which we will visit when in Cleveland County.
▷ MacArthur Museum, Little Rock ARBegin at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E 9th Street, Little Rock. Behind the building are two markers, "The Camden Expedition" and "The Arsenal Crisis". The "Tower Building" at the Arsenal location is the last remaining building from the Civil War era.
▷ Exit MacArthur Park, E 9th St, Little Rock ARFrom the park, turn left (westward) onto 9th Street and go about one-half mile to Broadway Street/US 70. The Scenic Highway is Arkansas 5 from Little Rock to Benton; we will take the route that most-closely combines Arkansas 5 with the path followed by the Union Army.
▷ Broadway & West 17th St, Little Rock ARTurn right (westward) onto West 17th Street for about 5 blocks, including a swing to the left (southwestward) then back to the right (westward). West 17th becomes Wright Avenue at Chester Street.
▷ Approximate locationAbout 10 miles from the start of the route, near the intersection of Stagecoach Road and I-430, is the location of the Ten Mile House. Continue westward on Stagecoach Road/Arkansas 5 for 7.1 miles.
▷ This brings us to the next point of interest,
Benton Road.
Benton Road
Sequence: 2 of 22
▷ We previously began at
The Little Rock Arsenal, ending on Arkansas 5 north of I-30 in Saline County, which is our starting point.
▷ W Conway Street at N Market Street, Benton ARAt North Market Street, turn left on North Market (this segment is one way southward) for one block. Historic markers are on the grounds of the courthouse (left, eastern side of street). If parking is not available on S Market St, turn left into the right lane of W Sevier Street.
Saline River and Rural Saline County
Sequence: 3 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Benton Road, ending on West South Street just west of I-30, which is our starting point. If necessary, this point can be reached by taking I-30 Exit 116 Sevier Street South Street from Little Rock.
Hot Spring County and Rockport
Sequence: 4 of 22
▷ Tanner St at Riverview Dr, Malvern ARTurn right (northward) onto Riverview Drive and proceed along the river, under I-30, about 3/4 miles to the Ouachita River Whitewater Park. The Union Army crossed the Ouachita on a pontoon bridge near here.
▷ US 270B at US 67, Malvern ARTurn right (westward) onto US 67 South for 13.4 miles. Along the way you will pass Donaldson and cross the Ouachita River.
▷ US 67 at Arkansas 15, Clark Co ARTurn right (northward) onto County Road 15 / Midway Road. Travel about 7.7 miles to Social Hill. This road follows the alignment of the original Military Road taken by the Union Army.
▷ US 67 at Arkansas 15, Clark Co ARTurn right (or continue if you did not go to Social Hill) on US 67 south for 7.1 miles. Pass through Friendship before reaching Caddo Valley.
Arkadelphia and Clark County
Sequence: 5 of 22
▷ US 67 at Old Military Road, Clark County ARAlthough not part of this route, the Military Road leads westward, continuing across the center of the county into the hills in the western part of Clark County that borders the Little Missouri River. Steele proceeded with his army to Arkadelphia to await the arrival of Brigadier General John M. Thayer with his troops coming from Fort Smith.
▷ US 67/North 10th Street, ArkadelphiaTurn left (westward) onto Pine Street/Dr. M.L. King Jr. for about 2.1 miles, crossing I-30. Be in the left lane. This point can be reached by taking I-30 Exit 73 Arkadelphia.
▷ Pine Street at Arkansas 51S/26WJust west of I-30, use the left lane to turn left (westward) onto onto Arkansas 51 South/Arkansas 26 West. Travel about 9.5 miles toward Hollywood.
Hollywood and Terre Noire Creek
Sequence: 6 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Arkadelphia and Clark County, ending in the Clark County community of Hollywood, Arkansas, which is our starting point.
▷ Halfway Cemetery, Clark County ARThis is where the Union Army passed. Halfway was a small community half way between Hollywood and Antoine in Pike County. Little remains now but the cemetery. Return to Arkansas 26.
Okolona / Battle of the Bees
Sequence: 7 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Hollywood and Terre Noire Creek, and returned to the intersection of Arkansas 26 and Arkansas 53 in Hollywood, Arkansas, which is our starting point.
▷ Fire Department, Okolona ARThe Okolona Fire Department is on the east (left) side of Arkansas 51, just south of the post office. There is a double-sided marker near the metal building. Follow Arkansas 51 about 10.7 miles (crossing I-30 around 8.5 miles) to US Highway 67.
Elkins' Ferry
Sequence: 8 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Okolona / Battle of the Bees, ending at the junction of Arkansas 51 and US 67 about 2.2 miles from I-30, which is our starting point.
▷ US 67 at Nevada 37, Nevada Co ARTurn right (northward) on Nevada 37 and travel 4.4 miles, including crossing over I-30 and just past a curve to the right, to the church on the right (southeast from the road).
Prairie D'Ane / Battle of Gum Grove
Sequence: 9 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Elkins' Ferry, ending at the junction of US 67 and US 371 at a mural in downtown Prescott, which is our starting point.
▷ US 371/N Main Street at Arkansas 19, Prescott ARContinue straight onto Arkansas 19 and continue 2.1 miles, crossing Interstate 30. On the west side is the site of the Prairie D'Ane battle, and the point at which the Union Army first entered the battlefield. This point can be reached on I-30 exit 46. Return along US 371 for 2.1 miles.
▷ Prairie D'Ane Battlefield, Prescott ARThe battlefield extends to the west, north of the interstate. However, there have been no roads that lead from the east side to the west side. Therefore, return along Arkansas 19 to the US 371 junction.
▷ Arkansas 19 at US 371, Prescott ARTurn right (westward) onto US 371/Greenlawn Street and travel about 2.5 miles, crossing Interstate 30. There's a marker at the truck stop. This point can be reached on I-30 exit 44.
▷ US 371 at Nevada 30, Prescott ARTurn right (north) onto Nevada 30, the western boundary of the truck stop. Just past the pavement and along the gravel portion of this road is a panoramic view of the prairie.
▷ This brings us to the next point of interest,
Washington.
Washington
Sequence: 10 of 22
▷ US 67 at Arkansas 332, Prescott ARFollow 332 for 11.2 miles through open pasture lands, across I-30 and the southwest portion of Prairie D'Ane into the woodlands of Hempstead County to the village of DeAnn.
▷ Arkansas 332 at Hempstead 212, DeAnn, Hempstead County ARContinue on Arkansas 332 for 1.1 miles to Arkansas 29. At this point, segments of the old Camden-to-Washington Stagecoach Road are not on paved roads or are not part of the modern road network. Therefore, an alternative route is necessary.
▷ Arkansas 32/N Hazel Street at US 278/W Commerce/Clinton Bypass, Hope ARTurn right (westward) onto W Commerce Blvd (Bill Clinton Bypass/U.S. 278) and continue 3/4 mile to the North Hervey Street intersection. Note: At this intersection, you are about a mile from the National Park Service's Bill Clinton Birthplace site. To get there (not part of this Scenic Highway), turn left (southeastward), go under the mainline railroad underpass, and the site is on the left (east).
▷ Washington Cemetery, Washington ARThe Washington Cemetery is on the left (south) side of US 278 and a historic marker is near the highway. Return to Arkansas 332/US 67 in Prescott by (a) reversing the path along the Camden Expedition Scenic Byway, or (b) following US 278 East to Hope, then eastward onto I-30, or (c) following US 278 into Hope, passing the Bill Clinton Birthplace site, and then left (eastward) onto US 67 and northeastward to Prescott.
▷ Railroad Crossing, Prescott ARCrossing the railroad track becomes Arkansas 24/S Main Street. Travel southeastward for 0.7 mile to the point where the curve begins.
▷ This brings us ready to proceed to the next point of interest,
Moscow.
Moscow
Sequence: 11 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Washington, ending on Arkansas 24 at Cale Road/Ash Street in Prescott, which is our starting point.
▷ This brings us ready to proceed to the next point of interest,
Bluff City.
Bluff City
Sequence: 12 of 22
▷ We previously visited
Moscow, ending on Arkansas 24 at the junction of Ash Street, about 0.7 miles southwest of the junction of US 371/US 67 in Prescott, which is our starting point.
White Oak Lake State Park
Sequence: 13 of 22
▷ We previously reached the Arkansas 299/387 junction, just south of Arkansas 24 in
Bluff City, which is our starting point.
Poison Spring
Sequence: 14 of 22
▷ Upper White Oak Lake Boat Ramp, Ouachita County ARContinue on Arkansas 387 about 1.6 miles uphill to the stop sign at Arkansas 57. Highway 387 is scenic as it winds around the lake and then climbs to higher ground in the piney woods of the Western Gulf Coastal Plain in southern Arkansas.
▷ This brings us to our next point of interest,
Camden.
Camden
Sequence: 15 of 22
▷ We previously visited
Poison Spring and made our way to Camden, which is our starting point.
▷ Sandy Beach ParkContinue along US79B another 0.4 miles, using the Ben Laney Bridge to cross the Ouachita River.
▷ Fort Lookout/Redoubt A, Monroe Street at Rogers Street SW, Camden ARThe marker on the left (northwest corner) describes "Fort Lookout" or "Redoubt A". Turn left (westward) onto Rogers Street SW for 0.3 mile. Caution: Private Property, Do Not Access: The steep drive up the tree-covered side of the hill leads to the vantage point overlooking the Ouachita River. It's a residence owned by the McCollum-Chidester House Museum.
▷ Maul Road at Greenwood Avenue NW, Camden ARTurn right onto Greenwood Avenue NW. Immediately to the right on the southwest corner of the intersection is the site of a marker for Redoubt B. Redoubt B is located on the ridge in what is now the higher portion of the Greenwood Cemetery. Continue southward on Greenwood Avenue NW to the corner of the cemetery at Vanderbilt.
▷ This brings us ready to proceed toward the next point of interest,
Marks' Mill.
Marks' Mills
Sequence: 16 of 22
▷ We previously ended at Fort Southerland Park in
Camden at US 79, which is our starting point.
▷ Bradley Ferry Rd at U.S. 79, Camden ARTake US 79 for 30.1 miles, traveling over the Ouachita River, through northeast Ouachita county and northern Calhoun County and southeastern Dallas County to Fordyce.
▷ Arkansas 8 /W 4th Street at N Main Street, Fordyce ARIf you like, turn right (south) on North Main Street to visit points of interest in the 200 block of North Main Street. Restaurants, fast food, gas, shopping and some motel accommodations, if desired, are available along US 79, Arkansas 8 and in downtown Fordyce. Return to East 4th Street turning right (eastward).
▷ This brings us to the next point of interest,
Mt. Elba.
Mount Elba
Sequence: 17 of 22
▷ Following the Scenic Highway, we previously began at
Marks' Mills, ending at Marks Cemetery Road at Arkansas 179 in Cleveland County and the Hebron Methodist Church, which is our starting point for the next portion of the Scenic Highway.
We also reference the beginning of the Red River Campaign at
Little Rock on March 23, because it was around that time that one group of Union troops were sent to the Mt. Elba vicinity. It would be almost a month before troops who had advanced toward the Red River would be back in this vicinity. We visit Mt. Elba now merely for geographic convenience, since we are nearby.
▷ This brings us ready to proceed to the next point of interest,
Princeton.
Princeton
Sequence: 18 of 22
▷ We were last at
Mt. Elba and had returned to the junction of US 79/US 167 and Arkansas 8 in Fordyce, which is our starting point.
▷ Dallas 409 at Phillips Trail, Dallas County ARPhillips Trail branches off (to the right) about 1/2 mile before the approximate site of the skirmish at Guesses Creek. There's a marker at the site of the Cannonball House. Return the 1.9 miles to Arkansas 46/12th Avenue.
Saline Bottoms
Sequence: 19 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Princeton, ending on Arkansas 46 at Leola, which is our starting point.
Jenkins' Ferry
Sequence: 20 of 22
▷ We were last in the
Saline Bottoms, ending at Leola, which is our starting point.
▷ This brings us ready to turn toward the next point of interest,
Whitten's Mill.
Prattsville and Whitten's Mill
Sequence: 21 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Jenkins' Ferry, ending on Arkansas 46 at the Arkansas 291 junction, which is our starting point.
▷ Arkansas 46 at Arkansas 291There are two markers at this intersection, "Refugee Children" and "Supplies Destroyed". Turn left (initally west then northward) for 6.2 miles.
▷ This prepares us for traveling to the next point of interest,
Little Rock.
Little Rock
Sequence: 22 of 22
▷ We previously began at
Whitten's Mill, finishing in Sheridan, which is our starting point.